Kailua-Kona Group Unveils Plan for Village

Changing county law to allow sidewalk dining in Kailua-Kona is among the short-term goals contained in a five-year strategic plan adopted last month by the board of directors of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District.

Initiatives outlined in the plan are aimed at helping KVBID meet the growing demands of various stakeholders and seek new opportunities to improve the vitality of the district, the group said in a press release.

“A lot of hard work and insight has gone into this strategic plan,” said Michele Otake, development manager, Queen Liliuokalani Trust and a KVBID board member.

“I join everyone on the strategic planning committee in extending thanks to the KVBID board of directors and its board committee chairs as we worked through the process.”

Much of the plan is devoted to basic issues such as maintaining or improving the town’s cleanliness and maintenance, with the latter aimed at roads, pavement markings, traffic signs and existing security cameras.

Other short-term goals for the historic village include determining whether additional surveillance cameras are needed, addressing lighting and pedestrian needs along Ali`i Drive, advocating “housing first” opportunities for chronic homelessness  and identifying beautification opportunities at the Kailua Pier and.

Recreational goals contained in the plan include assisting in the creation of a county park at Oneo Bay, which is located on the southern end of Kailua village, and establishment of “pedestrian friendly pathways through the village including the creation of an “urban trail” running from the pier to the Bubba Gumps restaurant at Oneo Bay.

Other goals include increasing parking and expanding ridership on county buses and private trolley systems.

According to the plan, funding for the various initiatives would come from fees paid by businesses and residences required by the establishment of the improvement district established by county ordinance in 2007 and by grants or appropriations by the county and state.

The plan said past accomplishments of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District include security patrols, public janitorial services, landscaping and placing of additional trash receptacles.

The group also encouraged the placing by the Hawaii Police Department of surveillance cameras at “known hot spots” in the village with the assistance of a $200,000 grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The plan said KVBID also worked to support the “fast-tracking” of an emergency overnight homeless shelter that is now in operation in the Kailua-Kona area.